About the song
“Take On Me,” a quintessential synthpop anthem by the Norwegian band A-ha, remains an enduring classic in the annals of pop music. Penned by band members Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, and Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, the song was first released as a single on October 19, 1984. Initially produced by Tony Mansfield, it underwent subsequent production by Alan Tarney and John Ratcliff a year later for the band’s debut studio album, *Hunting High and Low* (1985). Its official release as a lead single by Warner Bros. Records on September 16, 1985, catapulted it to global fame.
“Take On Me” merges synthpop with elements of new wave, featuring a melodic blend of acoustic guitar, keyboards, and drums. Its lyrics tell the tale of a man’s romantic pursuit of a woman, grappling with the challenge of expressing his true feelings to her. Originally conceived and recorded under the title “Lesson One” in 1982, the song underwent significant lyrical and musical refinements before its final incarnation.
Upon release, “Take On Me” garnered widespread acclaim from music critics who praised its catchy melody and innovative production, deeming it a standout track from *Hunting High and Low*. The song achieved unprecedented commercial success, topping charts in 36 countries including major markets like Australia, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. It also reached the top 10 in numerous other countries, peaking within the top 5 in Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it secured the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking A-ha’s first and only chart-topping single and making them the first Norwegian act to achieve this milestone.
“Take On Me” is accompanied by two distinct music videos. The original 1984 version features A-ha performing against a blue-screen backdrop, while the iconic 1985 version, directed by Steve Barron, utilizes groundbreaking pencil-sketch animation to portray a narrative where a girl (played by Bunty Bailey) enters a comic book world and interacts with the lead character (portrayed by Morten Harket). This video received eight nominations at the 1986 MTV Video Music Awards, winning six awards including Best New Artist in a Video, Best Concept Video, and Best Direction in a Video.
The song’s enduring popularity has led to numerous covers and appearances in various films and TV shows, including adaptations in “Bumblebee,” “Deadpool,” “Deadpool 2,” “Despicable Me 3,” “Doctors,” “EastEnders,” “Family Guy,” and “Raising Hope.” Its music video continues to be praised for its innovative, ahead-of-its-time creativity and was one of the earliest to be remade in YouTube history.
Recognized as A-ha’s signature song, “Take On Me” has sold over 7 million copies worldwide, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling singles of all time. Its legacy not only endures through its commercial success but also through its influence on pop culture and its timeless appeal to new generations of music lovers.
Video
Lyrics
We’re talking away
I don’t know what I’m to say
I’ll say it anyway
Today is another day to find you
Shyin’ away
Oh, I’ll be comin’ for your love, okay
Take on me
(Take on me)
Take me on
(Take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two
So needless to say
I’m odds and ends
But I’ll be stumblin’ away
Slowly learnin’ that life is okay
Say after me
It’s no better to be safe than sorry
Take on me
(Take on me)
Take me on
(Take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day or two
All the things that you say, yeah
Is it life or just to play my worries away?
You’re all the things I’ve got to remember
You’re shyin’ away
I’ll be comin’ for you anyway
Take on me
(Take on me)
Take me on
(Take on me)
I’ll be gone
In a day
(Take on me)
(Take on me)
(Take me on)
(Take on me)
I’ll be gone
(Take on me)
In a day
(Take me on)
(Take on me)
(Take on me)
(Take on me)
(Take me on)
(Take on me)